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Mya

Mýa Marie Harrison (born October 10, 1979), known professionally as Mýa, is an American R&B , dancer, , and . Born in Washington, D.C., to a father and an accountant mother, Mýa began performing as a child through dance training and signed with in her late teens, releasing her self-titled debut album in 1998, which included the top-ten singles "" and "Movin' On." Her sophomore effort, (2000), featured the number-two hit " (Wha Happened?)," solidifying her presence in R&B and pop charts. A pivotal achievement came with her feature on the remake of "" for the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack alongside , , and , which topped the for four weeks and earned Mýa a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals in 2002, along with for Best Video from a Film and Video of the Year. Subsequent albums like Moodring (2003) achieved gold certification, but label disputes and mismanagement prompted her departure from major labels, leading to the founding of her independent imprint Planet 9 in 2008, under which she has released projects emphasizing artistic control and live performances. Mýa has also pursued acting in films such as Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights (2004) and television, while maintaining a low-profile focused on , including a public commitment to as an expression of since around 2013. Her career trajectory reflects a deliberate shift from mainstream pop-R&B stardom to sustainable independence, avoiding typical industry scandals through privacy and professional focus.

Natural sciences

Genus of bivalve molluscs

Mya is a genus of marine bivalve molluscs in the family Myidae, established by in his 1758 work . The genus comprises infaunal burrowers adapted to soft sediments, characterized by thin, elongate, inequivalve shells that gape anteriorly and posteriorly to accommodate extended siphons for filter feeding. Shells typically measure up to 15 cm in length, with a chalky, often white or fawn exterior and a periostracum that may be light yellow or absent in older individuals. The type species is Mya truncata Linnaeus, 1758, designated subsequently by the . Accepted extant species include Mya antarctica (Melvill & Standen, 1898), Mya arenaria Linnaeus, 1758, Mya baxteri Coan & Valentich-Scott, 1997, Mya japonica J. C. Jay, 1857, Mya pseudoarenaria Schlesch, 1931, Mya truncata Linnaeus, 1758, and Mya uzenensis Nomura & Zinbo, 1937; several species are also recognized, such as Mya ekelofi Stilwell & Zinsmeister, 1992 †, Mya rugata (G. B. Sowerby I, 1846) †, Mya simplex (Hupé, 1854) †, Mya sowerbyi Zinsmeister, 1984 †, and Mya virgo K. , 1879 †. Species of Mya inhabit intertidal to subtidal soft-bottom environments, including sands, muds, and sandy gravels, from mid-shore levels to depths exceeding 190 m. They are suspension feeders, drawing in water through long, fused siphons buried deep in —up to 50 cm or more—and are prevalent in temperate to polar marine waters of the , with some circumboreal distributions. Burrowing efficiency varies with substrate; finer sediments facilitate faster penetration, while coarser gravels (>0.5 mm) hinder settlement. The is ecologically significant in benthic communities and commercially harvested in regions like the North Atlantic for species such as M. arenaria, known as softshell clams.

Chronometric unit

In geological and paleontological contexts, "mya" is an abbreviation for "million years ago," employed to specify the age of events, formations, or fossils relative to the present day. This unit facilitates the expression of scales, where events are dated in increments of one million years (1,000,000 years) prior to the current era, often calibrated against methods such as uranium-lead or potassium-argon decay. For instance, the Cretaceous-Paleogene is dated to approximately 66 mya, marking the boundary between the and eras. The term "mya" derives from "megaannum" (Ma), a denoting a million years, but is specifically oriented toward historical rather than duration; in contrast, "Myr" or "myr" may denote intervals of time without reference to the present. This distinction aids precision in stratigraphic correlation and evolutionary timelines, as seen in the International Chronostratigraphic Chart, which integrates chronometric units like mya with eons, , and periods. Usage of "mya" assumes a linear progression of geological time, grounded in from rock layers and isotopic analysis, though absolute dates carry uncertainties typically on the order of 0.5-2% for events older than 500 mya.

Named entities

Recording artist

Mya Marie Harrison signed with in 1998 and released her self-titled debut studio album on April 21, 1998. The album, produced primarily by Babyface and featuring and R&B elements, included the lead single with , which peaked at number six on the Hot 100. Subsequent singles "Movin' On" with reached number 34 on the Hot 100 and "My First Night with You" peaked at number 28 on the chart. Her career gained significant momentum through collaborations, notably the 2001 remake of "" for the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack, featuring , , and , which topped the for four weeks and earned her a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the . This exposure contributed to her second album, , released on April 25, 2000, which debuted at number 15 on the with first-week sales of 72,000 copies. The album's single "Case of the Ex (Whatcha Gonna Do)" reached number two on the Hot 100, while "" with peaked at number 29. Mya's third major-label album, Moodring, arrived in 2003 amid reported disputes with Interscope over creative control; she co-wrote and co-produced much of it, incorporating dancehall and electronic influences. The lead single "My Love Is Like...Wo" peaked at number 29 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, but the album faced limited promotion and commercial underperformance relative to her prior releases. Following her departure from Interscope, Mya pursued independent ventures, releasing Liberation (2007) and Sugar & Spice (2008) through her own imprint, with later projects like Smoove Jones (2016) earning a Grammy nomination for Best R&B Album. Throughout her career, Mya has incorporated R&B foundations with , pop, and elements, influenced by artists such as and , and has collaborated extensively with Jamaican and figures including and across 16 tracks. As of 2025, she continues releasing music independently, including the single "Give It to You" evoking styles.

Fictional characters and media

In the online adventure game , Mya Hartman-Wong serves as a , depicted as a young girl navigating mystical islands and challenges alongside her friends after becoming lost in the game's expansive world. The MYA (2019), directed and written by Aaron Avont Johnson, portrays fictional scenarios involving lead performers Karen Chimato, Whitney Deal, and Amber Hester, though specific plot details emphasize interpersonal dynamics in a narrative-driven format. Mya: Beginning (2025), a short set in a dystopian future, features Mya as a droid programmed as a pleasure bot in a ; the story unfolds as she confronts an unforeseen operational change, prompting from her to address the .

Commercial designations

Brands and products

MYA is a brand of pipes and accessories produced by Mya Saray, LLC, headquartered in , with operations extending to , , , the , and the . The products feature mouth-blown crystal vases, customizable components such as hoses, bowls, and coals, and patented rust-free detachable parts designed for durability and portability, including models like the QT series with carrying cases. The brand emphasizes designs blending artistry and modern aesthetics, positioning itself as a leader in functional hookah manufacturing since its commercial use of the MYA mark began in 2002. A related U.S. for hookahs and accessories (stems, bases, , plates, bowls, hoses, cases, and grommets) was filed on December 28, 2009, and registered on August 31, 2010, under International Class 034. MYA is also the brand name of an manufactured by Inc., containing 3.0 mg (a progestin) and 0.02 mg ethinyl per tablet in a 28-day regimen (24 active and 4 inert tablets). This combination prevents by suppressing , thickening cervical mucus to impede sperm passage, and thinning the endometrial lining. Approved in with Drug Identification Number (DIN) 02415380, it serves as a generic equivalent to branded products like and has been marketed since at least 2014. MYA Collection operates as a based in , focusing on clothing crafted from premium fabrics with designs inspired by global cultures and exotic locales. Items include dresses, skirts, tops, and kimonos, produced handmade in Greece with an emphasis on comfort and elegance, available through a showroom in and worldwide shipping. The brand maintains a significant online presence, with products distributed via boutiques in Greece and .

Codes and abbreviations

MYA is the IATA code assigned to Moruya Airport, a regional facility in , , supporting operations including passenger and cargo flights. In , MYA designates the Amtrak station code for , used for ticketing and scheduling in intercity passenger services. For (), MYA functions as the three-letter employed by the for athlete representation and events, on national vehicle license plates for international road transport, and by the for administrative and aid-related commercial transactions. These codes standardize identification in global , , and . In contracting, MYA abbreviates multi-year agreement, referring to or contracts extending across multiple fiscal years to ensure stability and cost efficiency. Financial applications include market yield adjustment (MYA), a mechanism in or to account for fluctuations in prevailing yields. Additionally, MYA denotes marketing year average in agricultural , calculating prices or volumes over a defined production cycle for and policy.

References

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